North Texas kids star in TV spot about juvenile arthritis

[Guest guest]

Local kids honored for sharing stories of living with juvenile arthritis

http://dallaslifeblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2011/02/arthritis-can-hit-at-any.h\

tml

8:55 AM on Wed., Feb. 23, 2011

Arthritis can hit at any age and sadly, many kids with juvenile arthritis do

not get the help or the support they need because too many people do not

recognize the signs of this disease which affects 300,000 children

nationally. That's why I think it's great that 11 North Texas kids were

honored Tuesday night at a red carpet premiere of a televised public service

announcement for the Arthritis Foundation at The Studios in Las Colinas in

Irving. You can read all about that in a story by Josh Pherigo (below).

Look for the ads on local and national television,YouTube and social

networking websites.

--------------------------------------------

North Texas kids star in TV spot about juvenile arthritis

www.dallasnews.com/health/headlines/20110222-north-texas-kids-star-in-tv-spot-ab\

out-juvenile-arthritis.ece

Published 22 February 2011 03:00 PM

Eleven North Texas children with juvenile arthritis will be honored with

family and friends Tuesday night at a red carpet premiere of a televised

public service announcement about a disease that affects 300,000 children

nationally.

The premiere, at The Studios in Las Colinas in Irving, is expected to draw

more than 100 North Texans who have been affected by the disease. The debut

will feature the 11 children who starred in the PSA, titled, " I'm the Face

of Arthritis, " said Margaret Gillett, Texas program director for the

Arthritis Foundation.

" Kids get arthritis, too, " Gillett said. " It's important that people realize

these children are battling a chronic disease. "

The ad is expected to air on local and national television as well as

YouTube and social networking websites to generate awareness of a disease

that few understand, Gillett said.

Juvenile Arthritis is anautoimmune disease that affects joints and can

damage cartilage and bone.

" They'll be fine one day, and the next they won't be able to walk, " Gillett

said. " A lot of children have trouble in school because teachers and

principals don't realize kids can have arthritis. They think they're lying. "

Eight-year-old Lewinski is one of the children featured in the ad. Her

mother, Ro Lewinski, said the PSA shoot gave an opportunity to open up

about her disease and educate her friends and classmates.

" I think she was a little apprehensive to tell the public what she has,

because so many people don't understand, " Ro Lewinski said.

" She looks totally normal, but I want people to be aware that it's not about

what you look like; it's what's underneath. "

Lewinski said that has good days and " rotten days " and can't do some

of the activities she wants, but that she has adapted.

When playing soccer was too painful last season, she switched her focus to

swimming, which causes no pain in her joints.

" She doesn't let it rule her life or define her, " Lewinski said of the

disease.